Pediatric Traditional Chinese Medicine

A child’s health is a parent’s greatest concern. Why does the illness recur over time?Can my child avoid the side-effects of anti-biotics and other medicine? Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can help you answer these questions and provide you with a natural and safe solution.

Many parents may raise questions about Traditional Chinese medicine and whether it is suitable for their child. Since ancient times, long before Western medicine was introduced, many children were cured through numerous kinds of Chinese medicine treatments with a proactive and preventive approach by treating the root cause of the problem without bringing harmful long-lasting side-effects. Therefore, parents can find comfort and rely on the profound effects of Chinese medicine.

How Does TCM Help My Child?

According to TCM, a child is not simply a miniature version of an adult. Children are immature physically and psychologically, and therefore, their weak and developing bodies are the main reason for pediatric complaints. The child’s growth is coupled with a “pure Yang” body, which may lead to liver heat causing your child to have problems with sleeping and concentrating. With some supporting treatments, your child can rebalance its body by taking out some heat and complement more cooling Yin. Parents need to control their children’s diet by avoiding food with high growth hormones, (e.g. milk and chicken) and deep-fried or grilled food.

Traditional Chinese medicine pays great importance to the child’s physical condition, especially, the three organs (i.e., lungs, spleen, and kidney) that may cause imbalance to the body. For instance, Kidney Qi is greatly important for the growth of your child and is easily impacted by the way he/she is raised. For example, children with kidney Qi deficiencies are more prone to bedwetting and growth disorders.

Additionally, the spleen is often overlooked but regarded as a very important organ in Traditional Chinese medicine. The spleen and the stomach are together the most important organs with respect to digestion. Children with spleen Qi deficiency will suffer from weight loss, loss of appetite, excessive saliva, diarrhea. It is important to keep balance in children’s diet and not to overfeed them with processed and unnatural foods.

During their growth, their lungs are still developing, and therefore, their relatively weak lungs lead to an inferior immune system with insufficient Qi circulation. Children with lung Qi deficiencies are less adaptable to changing environmental conditions and can easily have problems with breathing, allergies, and skin diseases (e.g., eczema, flu, and allergic rhinitis). Especially during autumn and winter times, children will need that extra help with their lungs.

Detoxify the body with Liquorice water (甘草水)

Invigorate the spleen and stomach with Astragalus (黃耆) and Atractylodes (白朮)

Support the lungs with Apricot Kernel (杏仁) or Codonopsis Pilosula (党参)

What Can I Do Additionally?

Your child’s condition can be treated by pediatric Tuina massage, Chinese medicine, acupuncture or cupping. It is important to treat your child’s conditions in a timely matter, because it will reduce the length of the treatment and prevents further complications.

What are the benefits of TCM?

Effective and curative instead of palliative： prevention instead of a temporary cure;